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What are the rules for compost toilets?
Human waste can pose a risk to public health because it may contain disease-causing organisms. For this reason, it must be safely contained and allowed to complete the composting process before handling or reuse. In fact, it is considered unsanitary—and is illegal in most parts of the United States—to defecate directly into holes in the ground or to apply untreated human waste to soil.
To protect health and the environment, there are four basic rules of human sanitation:
- Human excrement should not come into contact with water.
- Human excrement should not come into direct contact with soil.
- Hands should always be washed after using a toilet or after handling compost toilet materials.
- Human waste should be treated through composting before it is applied to soil.
The purpose of a composting toilet container (whether a bin, tank, or unit) is to isolate and safely store toilet waste so that it does not contaminate soil or water and cannot be accessed by children or animals. By keeping the waste in a dedicated above-ground unit, composting toilets also create the right conditions for decomposition: oxygen is available to the microorganisms that break down organic matter, and the material is elevated away from ground-level contamination risks.
Popular composting toilets
NSF Rules for Composting Toilets
Alongside the general sanitation principles, the most widely recognized performance guideline for composting toilets in the United States is NSF/ANSI Standard 41: Non-Liquid Saturated Treatment Systems. This standard provides a benchmark for safe and effective operation, covering both the performance of the toilet and the reliability of the composting process.
To be NSF-certified, composting toilets must demonstrate that they meet six key requirements (source):
- Capacity – The toilet must reliably handle its rated user load for long-term use and occasional overloads.
- Odor control – The system must operate without producing offensive odors.
- Pathogen safety – The finished compost must meet strict bacterial content standards, ensuring it is hygienic and safe to handle.
- Truth in labeling – All advertising, manuals, and labeling must be accurate and not misleading.
- Independent testing – Certification requires that products under evaluation are tested independently, without manufacturer interference.
- Field verification – Laboratory results must be backed up by testing in real-life field installations.
NSF certification is valuable because it verifies compliance with these six requirements through independent, third-party testing. However, it is worth noting that high-quality composting toilets, like those we supply, are already designed to meet these same principles of capacity, odor control, pathogen safety, transparency, and real-world performance.
Are Waterless Toilets NSF Certified?
At present, our composting toilets are not NSF-certified. In the United States, some states and counties require composting toilets to meet the NSF/ANSI Standard 41. Although none of our composting toilets are yet NSF-certified (the certification process is both lengthy and costly), our systems have undergone independent testing and certification in Europe and Australia according to local standards. These test results demonstrate that our toilets meet the same six requirements of NSF 41 — even though the evaluations were not conducted by NSF itself but by independent foreign laboratories.
Do I Need a Permit to Install a Composting Toilet?
Whether or not you need a permit to install a composting toilet depends on your state and county regulations. In some areas, approval is straightforward, while in others local health departments may require additional documentation or specific certifications such as NSF/ANSI Standard 41. To avoid complications, it’s best to check with your local building authority or health department before installation to ensure full compliance with the rules in your area.
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📱(702) 328 0689
✉ info@waterlesstoiletshop.com
Everyday Rules for Using a Composting Toilet
To keep your composting toilet working properly and odor-free, there are a few simple everyday rules to follow:
- Use only biodegradable bulking material. There are many good options, including coconut coir, hemp, wood shavings, or even plain sawdust. In practice, almost any dry, organic material will work — the key is that it should be natural and biodegradable.
- Never put chemicals or cleaning agents inside. Composting toilets rely on natural biological processes, and artificial chemicals can disrupt or kill the microorganisms that do the work.
- Pay attention to your toilet, especially in the beginning. When first starting with a composting toilet, it can take a little time to learn how often to add bulking material and when service is needed. Over time, most users quickly get into a routine and find maintenance to be simple.
- Empty and rotate bins as needed. Many of our composting toilets are designed with large-capacity containers, so in practice they may only need to be emptied one to four times per year, depending on the number of users and how often the toilet is used.
- Keep ventilation clear. Proper airflow is essential for odor control and to support the composting process.
Following these everyday rules helps ensure that your composting toilet remains hygienic, low-maintenance, and pleasant to use.
Contact us for more information!
📱(702) 328 0689
✉ info@waterlesstoiletshop.com
Frequently Asked Questions About Composting Toilets
A properly maintained composting toilet does not produce offensive odors at all. Effective separation of excess moisture, good ventilation and the use of dry bulking materials such as coir, hemp, or wood shavings keep the system totally odor-free.
Yes — once the composting process is complete and the material has had sufficient time to break down, it can be safely used as a soil amendment. However, local regulations vary, so always check whether your state or county has specific rules for applying composted human waste to soil.
What Does Poop Look Like Inside a Composting Toilet – Is It Gross?
Regulations differ by state and county. Some areas allow composting toilets without restrictions, while others require systems to be NSF/ANSI Standard 41 certified. Always check with your local health department or building authority before installation.
Not necessarily. Some composting toilets are fully waterless and operate without electricity, while others use small fans or heaters for improved airflow and faster composting. We offer both non-electric and electric-assisted options depending on your needs.
That depends on the size of the unit, the number of users, and how often it’s used. Many large-capacity composting toilets only need to be emptied one to four times per year, while smaller units for part-time use may need more frequent service.
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Conclusion
Composting toilets are a safe, practical, and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional flush systems, provided they are used and maintained correctly. By following the basic sanitation rules, using the right bulking materials, and keeping up with simple maintenance, you can enjoy a hygienic and odor-free system that requires minimal servicing. While U.S. regulations vary and NSF/ANSI Standard 41 certification is the most recognized benchmark, high-quality composting toilets are already designed to meet the same core principles of safety and performance. Whether you’re installing a unit in a home, cabin, or off-grid property, understanding the rules will help ensure long-term success with your composting toilet.
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from 26 reviewsAfter years of consideration, this composting toilet was the solution. Instead of adding expense and time for a pool side bathroom, we constructed an adorable outhouse with the Green Toilet in mind. Added a solar powered exhaust fan to make the trips as comfortable as possible. We enjoy the novelty of it all and the unit is very clean with no odors.
We bought a property with a small cabin on it with a composting toilet. It was terrible! Lots of trouble, stinky etc. So I went on the hunt for a new one and found the GL90. I had my handyman install it. Actually we added a separate room on to the cabin. It turned out really cute. And the GL90 fits right in. Looks sleek and NO TROUBLE and no stink!!
We bought a 100 year old cabin with no running water and needed and indoor solution. Wife said she wouldn't stay there until she didn't have to make her way to the privy in the middle of the night.
So, after tons of research on all sorts of composting toilet models, we settled on the GL90. Since we are able to access the crawlspace below, it made sense to choose a model that gets the "mixing tub" out of the bathroom and down below. We went with installation option #2 (only seemed appropriate since it is a toilet!).The result is a toilet that looks like a toilet. And, the porcelain pedestal feels just like a traditional toilet.
Installation was straightforward and simple with the exception of the plastic tabs that the bowl gets screwed into to lock it in place. Took a few times to get it all lined up and did end up taking the oscillating tool the tabs, but it all came together and is nice a secure.
To power the fan, I added a dedicated switch powered outlet so there's never a doubt if the fan is on or not. Mounted the outlet out of the weather underneath the cabin.
I have some property off the grid. I needed waterless toilet, and I couldn’t have picked a better one! It was easy to set up, easy to use, and doesn’t smell. Even my very high maintenance kids are excited to use it!
The Green Lux toilet arrived and was very easy to set up. We built an elevated outhouse to make storage of the containers easy. We hosted a large gathering of 100+ people, and had several tell us that it was the most luxurious outhouse they have ever been in! Also, when the fan went out and the seat got cracked, they didn't even ask questions, and simply sent us new ones! We will 100% be returning customers!
I have an off grid cabin in southern Ohio. I wanted something I could install and use without having to deal with poo on a regular basis. The Tiny Pod fits my needs well. Eemeli was super helpful in answering my questions and the boxes came with most of the supplies I needed.
I did need to buy some perforated pipe, some hole saws and some pipe glue for my customized unit. I also needed to raise up the pod on to a platform I made so that the urine drain pipe would go over the bottom plate of my wall and also ro help get some downward slope for the urine drainage. Overall, I’m pleased so far.
I’m pretty skilled at do it yourself work so it was a fun project for me once I had everything planned and figured out.
I have a tiny home in Virginia that needed an upgraded bathroom. I spent a long time investigating composting toilets online and watched a lot of YouTube videos explaining how each works. I knew from experience that separating urine from solids was important for keeping the composting process odorless. The only toilet design that made sense for carefree emptying and separating was the Green Loo. Also, I didn’t want a plastic toilet but an attractive ceramic one. I decided on a Green Loo CF-4 continuous composting system. But how to get it to the East Coast? I decided it was worth paying several hundred dollars in shipping to get the Green Loo, which is only sold in the U.S. in Nevada, to the East Coast.
The toilet arrived on a huge truck that wasn’t willing to come down my dirt road and driveway, so a neighbor ended up picking the box up at the main road in his front end loader and dropping in my yard. I had a builder install it and, and despite some cussing and finessing, he got it hooked up and working in a day; some small parts (bolts and such) had been lost through a hole in the shipping box. (It wasn’t packed well for long-distance shipping). I am very pleased with the quality of the toilet, and the split system’s heavy duty plastic tank under the floor is sturdy and well made. I could tell it had been banged around a lot in shipping and aside from a few scratches it had arrived unscathed.
I used the Green Loo for a month without the fan to see if I needed it. The system worked in the sub-freezing weather; however, there was a slight odor, so I had the builder hook up the fan that came with it. Now it’s totally odor free. I plan to get the solar panel to run the fan, which is very quiet. The unit comes with a bag of Bokashi, and I ordered more Bokashi on Amazon to jump-start composting. I am using peat moss as a composting medium, but plan to switch to the more sustainably harvested coco coir. The CF-4 model is an excellent product.
Dug a 3 foot hole and filled it with lava rocks then pavered over it.
Looks and works great!!
Thank you
Installed our GL 90 compost toilet in our small cabin. It pretty simple, just remember measure twice before cutting.
The Wife and I used it for 1.5 months before I decided 5o switch the waste tank out.
I was not sure what to expect, the waste container is under the cabin. I lifted the lid just pulled it out. There was no smell no excess liquiods.
It was a very simple swap.
We installed the Green Loo 90 in our tiny house build and we couldn’t be more pleased with the final product. Because we live in a very cold climate, we had to do a creative installation to account for our extra thick floor insulation, but Eemeli at GreenLoo was incredibly helpful and gave us some great suggestions. We’re very impressed with the quality of the components and the ease of installation. When we needed a toilet seat replacement due to an overzealous delivery guy, Eemeli was right there to the rescue and had a new seat to us within a few days.
We cant recommend GreenLoo enough. it's a great product from a wonderful company with absolutely amazing customer service.
After a great deal of research, I decided on the Green Toilet Lux 120 Composting toilet for my off grid cabin. The fact that I could install a replaceable bin under the cabin's "in-house" toilet area was fantastic. The porcelain toilet is a perfect amenity - although I had to find a toilet seat to replace the one that was sent (cracked in shipping - but WTS reimbursed me to cover the costs). A rubber boot on the roof helps to keep rain out of the structure. The wind-driven fan works really well and helps keep the area ventilated. I keep a bucket full of wood mulch in the toilet area and drop 1 to 3 scoops after each use. I found some biodegradable detergent from Dr. Bronners that I mixed with water to spray down the toilet for cleaning at the end of our weekend visit. I also upgraded the provided vent pipe to a 4" pipe.
Having a usable composting toilet in the winter makes our cabin so much more habitable. Thanks for making this product availalbe!
We have been building a small, off grid hut/cabin on our Utah mountain property. We were looking to build something small, simple and low maintenance. Our power is all 12 volt solar and we carry in water. This cabin will be seasonal (no septic)so the toilet had to be simple too. Other composting toilets have too many moving parts and a low capacity. After much research we decided on the GreenLoo GL90. I love the low profile composting bins. We decided to build an attached mechanical room/outhouse/shower room and built it to suit the toilet specifically. The GL90 porcelain toilet is tall and easy to keep clean. I ordered the 12v vent fan with my kit and it works perfectly NO smell at all! I turn off the solar when we leave so I was concerned it would smell upon our returns. So far so good! We are going to install a “whirlybird” wind activated vent cap to vent in addition to the electric fan while we are away from the cabin. Install of the GL90 was a breeze and it looks great! Big thanks to the good folks at The Waterless Toilet Shop for their friendly support and expertise.. and a full line of supplies and accessories! I’m adding some photos of the Toilet and build so far!
Jim M.
Salt Lake City, UT
We built a short term rental cabin on our homestead to creat another income stream in an environmentally sustainable way. After growing up off the grid, and traveling/camping around the world, my wife and I have tried just about every composting toilet system on the market. We have even owned a few of the nicer brands, but never found one like The Green Loo. This system far exceeds the competition, and has everything we want in a composting toilet system. Most notably, it is easy and straightforward to use, easy to clean/service, and is made of quality components that are meant to last. I am a carpenter, but the installation process is simple and can be done with basic carpentry knowledge and tools. The instructions that come with the toilet are also very Clear and helpful. Ordering from the waterless toilet shop was great, Eemeli is very responsive and communicative. Eemeli helped me with my custom chute order, and when the shipping company damaged, then lost the chute, Eemeli immediately sent me a replacement. I highly recommend ordering from the Waterless Toilet Shop, they offer quality products at competitive prices and customer service and support that goes above and beyond what is customary.
We are pleased to hear of Greenloo’s expansion to Canada/US markets. We are very happy with our GL 90 maximizer composting toilet. Instructions followed make a comfortable and sophisticated toilet situation. The unit was well received (exception whirlybird fan option was slightly damaged - not Greenloo fault - aside from shipping damage we needed to remove and reinstall the fan’s interior veins as they were upside down? Just so you know).
We live in a rural area, off grid and the two of us provide the Greenloo continuous use as we live here full time. It is an excellent unit overall particularly when compared with competitor models of strange or potentially messy maintenance no one wants for sure. We dug a big hole and filled with compost from toilet for our lovely maple tree (not edible and ornamental) and it is doing great. Thank you for a great product.
The toilet I have bought 5 years ago is great. Easy to install. Easy to change storage.
Feels wonderful to sit on. Awesome having no smell in bathroom.
Good price also.
Being fully off grid and on a site with a very high water table, conventional septic tank options are not appropriate for our site, and a high energy consuming aerobic system is out of the question.
This installation is a stand alone facility we call the TajMaLoo and will be a trial run for including a Green Loo CF4 in our future container house project.
Needed dry material for my composting toilet. Fast delivery!
Who We Are
At Waterless Toilet Shop we are a dedicated team of dry toilet experts based in Henderson, Nevada. As a family-owned company with deep roots in Scandinavia and Australia, we bring a blend of global insights and local expertise to every product we create.
At Waterless Toilet Shop, we do more than just design and manufacture innovative composting toilets; we also use them daily. This hands-on experience allows us to continuously improve our products and ensure they meet the high standards of functionality and sustainability that our customers expect.
We are committed to living the eco-friendly principles we teach, making our solutions not just part of our business, but a part of our lives. Join us in embracing a more sustainable future, one flush at a time.
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